Profile:
Amanda works for Redcar and Cleveland Council as Head of Post-16 Progression and Careers. She is married with two adult children, and a granddaughter and lives in Stockton on Tees, with her husband Gary.
Amanda has worked in the education and skills sector for the past 25 years and this is where her passion lies. She is a strong advocate for lifelong learning, and passionate about the region, and this is why she feels it an honour to be a governor for Etc.
She believes that anyone has the potential to achieve their ambitions and there should be no timeframe on this; she sees the impact of education and learning every day in her work when young people (who have not always engaged well in school) grow in confidence and self-esteem, when they are undertaking learning that they enjoy and can connect to their future career goals.
She returned to education as an adult learner and undertook a degree when her children were quite young; managing this alongside part-time work was challenging and Durham University was not necessarily set up for part time learners at that time, but she absolutely loved it. She felt fulfilled, challenged in a good way and developed strong bonds and friendships with her peers on the degree course; it built her confidence and helped with personal development and career progression.
Her early career was in the Hospitality Sector, and she moved quickly into management roles, then progressed to community education and worked very closely with Stockton Adult Education and what was then, Stockton and Billingham College, developing strong partnerships to respond to community education and learning needs to support economic and social regeneration.
She also worked as a part-time Tutor, delivering training to diverse groups of students (including learners with special educational needs and disabilities) and has managed alternative education programmes and an Education Business Partnership before progressing to senior roles nationally, both in operational management and business development (but all in the education and skills sector).
Amanda returned to work in the Tees Valley in 2018 for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in the Children and Families Directorate. She thoroughly enjoys her current role and has developed strong partnerships with local colleges and training provider partners to support the participation of children and young people in education, and to identify and respond to gaps in provision. In addition, Amanda chairs the Careers Network in Redcar and Cleveland and is a Foster Panel member.
Committee membership:
- People
